University of Virginia Library

Scena septima.

Coridon.
I have forborn till now to credit what
The Satyr told me of Corisca late,
Fearing it might be some malicious lye
Devis'd by him to shake my constancie.
For most improbable it seem'd, that she
In the same place where she expected me
(Unlesse the message which Lisetta brought
To me from her were false) should straight be caught
With an adulterer. And yet (the truth
To say) here's a shrewd token, and it doth
Perplex me much, to see the mouth o'th'den
Just in that manner he related then
Shut and damm'd up with such a massie stone.
Ah false Corisca! too well by mine own
Experience of thy ungracious deeds
I know thee now: stumbling so oft, thou needs
Must fall at last. So many frauds, so many
Lyes, and vow-breaches might have warned any
(Whom folly or affection did not blear)
That some such fearfull tumbling cast was neer.
'Twas well for me I tarried by the way;
A happy chance my father made me stay:
Though then I did suppose him foolishly
T'have been a tedious Remora. Had I
Come at Lisetta's hour, I might have seen
Something which poyson to my eyes had been.
But what shall I do now? arm'd with disdain,
Shall I revenge and mischief entertain?
No: I have lov'd her, and this act doth crave
My pity, not my anger. Shall I have
Pity on one deceiv'd me? Mee! she hath
Deceiv'd her self, leaving a man of faith,
To give her self a prey into the hand
Of an ignoble Swain, a stranger and
A vagabond, that will to morrow be
More wavering, more without faith then she.
Shall I take pains then to revenge a wrong
That carryes with it the revenge along?
And quenches all my indignation so,
'Tis turn'd to pitie? She hath scorn'd me though:
Sh'has honour'd me: for she who thus could chuse,
Highly commends the man she doth refuse.
She scorn'd me, who the way did never know,
How she should love receive, or how bestow.
Who lik'd at random still, or had this curse,
If two were offerd her, to take the worse.
But tell me Coridon, how can it be,
If scorn of being scorned move not thee
To take revenge; but that to have been crost
By such a losse should do't? I have not lost
Her whom I never had: My self I have
Regain'd, whom I unto another gave.
Nor can't a losse be termed to remain
Without a woman so unsure and vain.
In fine, What have I lost? Beautie without
Vertue: A head with all the brains pickt out:
A brest that hath no heart: A heart that hath
No soul in it: A soul that hath no faith.
A shade, a ghost, a carcasse of affection,
Which will to morrow turn to putrefaction.
Is this a losse? I will be bold to say't,
'Tis a great purchase and a fortunate.
Is there no woman in the world but she?
Can Coridon want Nymphs as fair as she,
And far more true? But she may well want one
Will love her with such faith as Coridon,
Whom she deserv'd not. Now if I should do
That which the Satyr did advise me to,
Accusing her of vow-breach, in my breath
I know it lies to have her put to death.
But I have not an heart so Aspine, I,
That with the wind of womans levitie
It should be mov'd. Too great a happinesse
And honour 'twere to their perfidiousnesse,
If with the trouble of a manly brest,
And breaking of the happy peace and rest
Of an ingenious soul, I were to be
Reveng'd upon Corisca now. For me
Then let her live: or (to expresse it better)
By me not die, Live for my Rivall let her.
Her life's revenge for me sufficient:
Live let her to dishonour; to repent:
I know not how to envie him, or loath
Her; but with all my heart do pity both.